Special care for your special needs.
The Vision and Wellness Center, 2704 82nd St., Lubbock, TX 79423 806-745-2222
Dr. Michael J. Dunn, Optometrist
The Family Vision Center
2704 82nd Street
Lubbock, Texas 79423
806-745-2222
Copy right Michael J. Dunn, O.D. Jan. 2008
You and Macular Degeneration
The Facts:
1. 33% of the population 70 years of age or older will develop macular degeneration.
2. 70% of the population is “not familiar at all with what macular degeneration is.”
3. 75% of the population does not know that there are treatments for macular degeneration.
4. Most people with macular degeneration don’t know that they can be helped to see
better with low vision aids.
What is Macular Degeneration?
The macula is a spot about the size of the end of a ballpoint pen directly back in each of y
our eyes. It is the one area of the eye that gives us our sharp center vision. All of t
he area surrounding that one tiny spot is for motion and shape. Macular degeneration i
s a breakdown of circulation to the macular and as circulation begins to breakdown the
macular loses nutrition causing the cells that give us fine detail (the 20/20 line) to be
damaged. There are two main types of macular degeneration. There is wet macular
degeneration, and there is dry macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration is
caused when fluid leaks out of the blood vessels near the macula causing pools of blood
or liquids damaging the macula. With dry macular degeneration the circulation has
gradually been shut off to the macular starving it for nutrition.
Factors That Increase the Risk of Macular Degeneration
Treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration
There are three main treatments for wet macular degeneration: laser treatments,
Visudyne, and injections into the eye.
Treatment for Dry Macular Degeneration
Nutrition:
Eye Health vs. Eye Sight
When working with macular degeneration, many people confuse eye health with eyesight.
The condition of macular degeneration involves eye health, while eyesight is related to how
we see the objects around us. We work with many people who have been told that no f
urther treatment can be given for their eye health. I explain to them that this does not mean
that nothing can be done for their eyesight. When glasses are not enough help, we can
switch from glasses to low vision aids. Low vision aids, range from handheld magnifiers l
ike the kind that Sherlock Holmes would use to electronic visors that can be adjusted for
brightness and magnification. In this range of instruments, we can usually find a low
vision aids that will do the vision tasks that the patient desires.
Types of Low Vision Aids
Two main uses for low vision aids:
Distance low vision aids are used for distance tasks such as driving, television, movies,
faces at church, and grocery store aisle markers. Near low vision aids are used for such
tasks as reading, handwork, writing checks, and doing crossword puzzles.
There are two main categories of low vision aids:
Handheld and head mounted
There are two main types of low vision aids:
Low vision aids that use optical lenses and low vision aids that use electronic lenses.
Which low vision aid is best for you?
We determine the best low vision aid for you by looking at the remaining vision that you
have, the particular tasks that you want to do, your physical condition, and any financial
imitations that you might have.
Please feel free to contact
Dr. Michael J. Dunn, O.D. if you have questions or need assistance with your vision.
Phone 806-745-2222
Fax 806-745-5486
e-mail [email protected]
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